Two predominantly agrarian and fishing communities in Benue State’s Apa and Agatu Local Government Areas have long endured violent clashes, banditry and armed herding, according to a report by AIT News.
State Commissioner of Police Cletus Wandibu undertook a familiarisation tour of the areas to assess the security situation on the ground and reassure residents. Local traditional rulers and community leaders appealed to the police high command to strengthen presence by establishing a dedicated police area command and deploying more personnel to protect farmlands.
Residents expressed a strong desire to return to their ancestral homes, sleep and wake in safety, and go about their farming without fear. They called for reforms and greater police coverage, noting that parts of Agatu currently lack adequate outposts.
During the engagement, the Commissioner of Police strongly cautioned the communities against hiring external mercenaries to settle land and chieftaincy disputes. He advised them instead to rely on internal dispute-resolution mechanisms, stressing that the greater challenge in Benue often stems from internal conflicts in which one side brings outside enemies to attack the other.
“People of Benue cannot solve this problem if they don’t live in peace,” Wandibu said, appealing for peaceful coexistence and assuring residents of the support of the federal government.
With the renewed assurances from the police command, residents of Apa and Agatu hope the high-level engagement will translate into safer farmlands, sustained peace and economic revival for their communities.
